THE Plateau State government has confirmed the tragic collapse of a school building in Jos, which resulted in 22 fatalities and left 132 individuals injured on Friday.
According to Mr. Musa Ashoms, the Commissioner for Information, six of those injured are in critical condition.
Mr Ashoms reported that the injured are receiving medical care in various tertiary health facilities across the state, while the bodies of the deceased have been placed in mortuaries.
The incident involved a two-storey building of Saints Academy, a secondary and primary school located in the Busa-Buji community of Jos North Local Government Area.
The collapse occurred at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Friday, during a third-term examination, trapping students, teachers, and others.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing it as a significant and tragic loss for the state. In a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Gyang Bere, Mutfwang extended his condolences to the families of the victims, calling the situation “heart-wrenching and unfortunate.”
“This is a tragic, unfortunate, and heart-wrenching event. We are grateful for the prompt response of the search and rescue team and the public, who assisted in evacuating the surviving students and staff,” said Mutfwang.
The governor has instructed relevant government agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency, to provide necessary support to the survivors. “Words cannot fully comfort the grieving families over their immense loss. We pray that God will console and uphold them during this difficult time,” Mutfwang added.
Governor Mutfwang also highlighted the importance of Executive Order 003, recently enacted to prevent such disasters. He emphasized that the order aims to protect citizens by ensuring adherence to building regulations as part of the Greater Jos Master Plan, preventing the city from deteriorating into a slum.
The community remains in shock and mourning as it deals with the aftermath of this devastating event.
Eighteen-Eleven Media